Acts 27:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

So that it would be clear Paul had not spoken by conjecture, the pilot, experienced in the matter, says the opposite. Therefore Paul’s words were not spoken by conjecture.

The centurion did this on the assumption that men experienced in sailing should be obeyed rather than a passenger inexperienced in the matter. Thus it was an error of judgment, not of fate.

When the ship stopped in the bay of Fair Havens, the season was already late. The fast of the Day of Atonement had already passed, on the tenth day of the month Tishri, in the second half of September. The winter months, dangerous for navigation, had arrived. Paul had gained considerable experience in sea journeys during his apostolic travels. He advised them to spend the winter in Fair Havens. But this bay was unsuitable for wintering. Therefore the centurion, trusting the helmsman and the ship's master more, agreed to the advice of others. They wished, if possible, to reach the harbor of Phoenix for the winter. It lay on the same shore of Crete, but capes jutting into the sea protected it better from the southwest and northwest winds.

But nearby was the harbor of Phoenix, the usual winter station of Alexandrian ships. Therefore the captain of the ship was determined to winter there, especially since under ordinary circumstances only a few hours of sailing were needed. The centurion Julius agreed with the captain, and the ship did in fact set out.

“He trusted the pilot more,” and so forth. This was quite natural in his position, to trust experienced sailors more than a simple passenger. Yet the centurion had probably already seen examples of Paul’s wisdom and foresight. Therefore he could have believed his words. The writer seems to note with some reproach that he vainly failed to trust the Apostle’s words. They were so quickly vindicated.

The direction of the ship belonged to the helmsman and the master, with whom the centurion agreed. But because navigation was difficult, the other sailors also began to give their opinions. Many of them said they should go down to the harbor of Phoenix. It was protected from the western winds then blowing, ZW and NW, by mountainous capes jutting southward into the sea. Besides, it was more spacious there than at Fair Havens. For this reason they could live through the whole cold season there, which in that region usually does not last long. The wind itself seemed to support this opinion, for for a time it became favorable for sailing to the named place. So the travelers sailed successfully, but only for a very short time.